Code-forming device.



G. G. BURKE.

001m FORMING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1 912. 1,@86,586,Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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G. G. BURKE. CODE FORMING DEVICE.

. APPLICATION FILED 001. 16, 1912. 1 ,53 Patented Feb. 10, 1914.-

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CHARLES G. BURKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CODE-FORMING DEVICE.

Application filed October 16, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in CodeForming Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My improvement relates to cipher forming devices.

It has for its object to produce a device that may be used to producecode words which require a uniform or definite number of electricimpulses for the transmission of the symbols representing the letters ofthe code words.

I have shown in the drawings and shall hereinafter describe aconstruction containing my invention. The particular construction,however, may be varied, and yet such variations may still contain thespirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1, is shown a front view of thedevice partly in section. Figs. 2 and 3 show the arrangement of theletters on the periphery of the wheels. Fig. 4; illustrates a frictiondevice for retarding the movement of the wheels or disks. Fig. 5indicates the numerical order of the letters of the groups.

As is known, each letter signal of the continental Morse code consistsof one, two, three or four telegraphic elemental units. hen words arelimited to five letters each and the aggregate of their units is twelve,it is obvious that the first four letters forming such words, mustembody not less than eight units, or more than eleven units. In order toreadily compute the number of impulses which any number of successiveletters comprise, I assign a numerical value to each letter of thealphabet, such numerical value depending upon the number of units whichconstitute its symbol, in accordance with the requirements of thecontinental Morse code. This numerical value assigned to each letter, isa basic principle in the construction, and an. essential aid in theverification of the artificial words of my new vo cabulary.

In the continental Morse code two letters,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1t), lE-Md.

Serial No. 725,981.

viz., E and T are telegraphically indicated and expressed by a slngleunit each; four letters are indicated by two impulses each viz. A, I, Mand N; eight letters D, G, K, O, R, S, U, and IV have three units eachin their symbols and the twelve letters B, C, F, H, J, L, P, Q, V, X, Yand Z require four units for their telegraphic indication. In order thatthese new artificial words shall have the required alphabetical sequenceas well as the determined uniform numbers of letters for each word andthat the symbols of their in dividual letters shall all agree in thetotal of their units, I use a word forming device having five wheels andI arrange that each of the five wheels of my word forming devices shallbe divided into four parts or sections each part or section beingnumbered to correspond with the number of units embodied in the symbolsof the letters assigned to, inscribed in and showing in such section,all five wheels being alike in their parts, divisions or sections.

The wheels of my word forming device are preferably arranged around acommon axis each wheel being independently movable around its center byany convenient means so that one letter at a time may be changed fromone position to another. As each wheel has all the letters of thealphabet displayed upon it and as each wheel has free motion forward andbackward around the center and as the individual letters in each of therespective five wheels are capable of being permutated with therespective letters on all the other wheels it is ob vious that allpermutations possible for twenty-six letters in combinations of five arewithin its capacity and that consequently it is practical and possibleby this device arranged as described to produce and supply 11,881,376combinations of 5 letters each and all differing from each other. Inother words 11,881,237 6 artificial words of five letters each may beproduced. In my present invention I, however, only use those words whichembody twelve units in the symbols of their letters and whose lettershave the required alphabetical sequence. Preferably the letters arearranged in the section so that all letters inscribed on the wheels willbe in the line with each other when the wheels are set in their properplaces for producing words, five letters being displayed at each settingof the wheels. I

The number of letters in the words de pend upon the number of wheels,each wheel presenting one letter and the number of units in the totalsymbols of all the letters of the word depend upon the sections of thewheels which are in line with each other when the wheels have beenoperated to produce a word, each section standing for and counting asmany units as are represented by its numerical designation.

Referring to the drawing which is the basis of the word forming device,1 is a base for supporting the device.

2, are two pedestals mountedon the base.

3 is a shaft which is rigidly supported between the pedestals 2. It issecured in position by means of the screw 4. Wheels 5, 6, 7 8 and 9 aresupported on the shaft 3 and rotate independently of each other. Thewheel 5 is mounted on a sleeve 10 which is secured to the shaft 8 bymeans of the screw 11. Wheels 6, 7, 8 and 9 are mounted on similarsleeves 12 whichare secured to the shaft 3 by means of screws 13. Thewheels are made cup shaped and the enlarged ends of the sleeve forreceiving the screws 13 and for holding the wheels in position fromlateral movement, are located within adjoining wheels. The sleeve of 6extends within the wheel 5 and the sleeve of 7 extends within the wheel6 and so on. An elastic three armed washer 14: is located on the innerend of the sleeves. The washeris afiixed to the inner end of thesleevewhile the ends of the arms press against the inner transversesurfaces of the wheels and thus retard the movement of the wheels aboutthe sleeves.

. openings or notches 21 located inthe strip 15. If the finger points ofthe wheels should stop in line with the strip 15 they may be easilyoperated by merely swinging the strip 15 to one side by the finger whenit is applied to the finger points to turn the wheel.

The finger points are preferably. located at the division lines of thegroups of letters.

Each wheel is divided into four group sections as shown in Fig. 3. Thegroups or sections are numbered 1, 2, 8 and 4; according to the numberof units in the symbols which are used to indicate the letters accordingto the Morse continental code, In each of these parts are foundthe-letters whose signal units agree in number with the number of thepart of the wheel and have the same numerical significance. In part 1 ofeach wheel are arranged the letters whose symbols have a singleelemental unit and count 1, viz. E and T. In part 2 of each wheel theletters are found which consists of 2 units each viz. A, I, M. N. Part 3of each wheel has all ofthe letters whose symbols have three units eachand count 3. Part 4: of the wheels comprises all the letters having 4units in their symbols and which count four each.

In operating the device the following method is carried out: Followingthe order of the alphabet the letter A is the initial letter and thefirst or outer wheel may be moved so as to show that letter at the pointar-' ranged for displaying each complete word. The second wheelis nextmoved so as to show the second letter of the new word, namely, theletter A. These two letters will count 4. The third wheel being nowmoved so as to display the 3 letters amounting to 6. The fourth is thenmoved into place so as to bring another into line which also counting 2now makes the total of the first 4 letters, 8. To complete the word onemore letter which must count 4 must be used. So the fifth wheel is movedso as to bring the first letter of the fourth section into line namely Bwhich counts 4. We now have the combination AAAAB displayed at thereading line. It is seen at a glance that the combined units of thesymbols indicating and signifying the individual letters displayed andforming the word determined upon total 12. It will now be readilyunderstood that inasmuch as the fifth wheel in its fourth sectioncontains all the letters which count 4; each and that these 4E unitletters are arranged on the wheel in their alphabetical relation to eachother it is only necessary to move the fifth wheel so as to bring thesuccessive letters of section 1 into line with the first four lettersdisplayed at the word space to produce all of the words which areproducible by this combination of 4: letters counting 2 each and a finall unit letter in alphabetical order. They are Aaaab, Aaaac, Aaaaf,Aaaah, and so on, as shown in Fig. 7. Our next step is to move thefourth wheel so as to remove the fourth A out of line and replace itwith the letter B of the fourth wheel which then displays AAAB whichwill be seen counts 10. A two unit letter must be added to complete theword so the first letter in section 2 of wheel '5 is brought into linemaking the completed 'word AAABA. The fifth wheel is now turned untilall of the letters of the sec end section have been used. Having usedall the letters counting two each on the fifth wheel we now proceed bymoving the fourth wheel another step and so as to bring C on said wheelinto View, making AAAC. The fifth wheel is then turned so as to againstart with the letters of the second section. They are used in ordermaking the words AAACA, AAAGI, etc. The fourth wheel is then turned to Fand the fifth wheel again used in order. When the fourth section of thefourth wheel has been exhausted the fourth wheel may be started on thethird section and the fifth disk may also be started on the thirdsection to make up the 12 impulse words AAADD, AAADG, etc.

As the letters in the sections of the wheels are arranged in theirproper alphabetical relation in making up the number of units requiredfor a word, the letters in the sections must be taken in their numericalorder. Thus should we need 1 in a combination we must use E before weuse T. If we need two we must take A before I and I before M and Mbefore N. Should we need three we must take D before we can use G, Gbefore K, K before O, 0 before R, R before S, S before U, and U beforeTV which is the last of the three. If four are needed B must be usedbefore C, C before F, F before H, H before J, J before L, L before P, Pbefore Q, Q, before V, V before X, X before Y and Y before Z. All theletters in any one section must be used one after the other in anycombination of sections of the wheels in forming words so as to secureall words possible in the combination. It will be seen that the wordswhich are possible to be produced by this method and means having theletters A, I, M and N for their first letters agree in all their lettersother than the first letter. The words have for their initial letters B,C, I, H, J, L, P, Q, V, X, Y and Z also agree in all the letters of thewords producible except the initial letter. This is also true of theother two groups of letters of the alphabet. It also secures the verybest and safest difference between words for as it is well known in theart an error seldom or never occurs in the first letters in transmittingwords and this is very desirable where the signification of the wordrequires resort to a book of reference.

The letters A, B, D, and E are the first letters of their respectivesections and constitutc the basis from which all words producible undermy invention may be made. Combinations of any of these four values usingfive at a time under the limitations described as to the total number ofunits required for the word transmission will constitute a key for theformation of the entire code. Therefore, when all words containing thesefour letters, A, B, D and E have been constructed according to themethod heretofore described, every possible combination of telegraphicunits has been made, under the limitation of 12 to each word, and thealphabetical combinations which complete the vocabulary are secured bythe mere rotation of the wheels. I, M and N are substituted for A; C, F,H, J, L, P, Q, V, X, Y and Z are substituted for B; G, K, O, R, S, U, Ware substituted for D and T is substituted for E. This novel Way ofsecuring all words possible by the mere change of the letters of thesections is of great importance in making up these new artificial wordsthereby vastly lessening the amount of labor and time that wouldotherwise be required to provide the enormous numbers of differing wordswhich the necessities of commerce demand in all transactions conductedby means of code and cipher messages.

It is obvious that this improved code will be a great advantage wheretransmission of coded messages is by wireless methods in the matter ofincreased speed and accuracy and particularly so in diminishing the Wearand tear of the instrument by reducing so largely the number ofunitdischarges required in the signals for the letters.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is asfollows:

1. In a word forming device the combination of a plurality ofindependently movable parts, each part being provided with the lettersof the alphabet grouped according to the number of electric impulsesrequired to telegraphically transmit them and adapted to place theletters of the parts in a readable line.

2. In a word forming device the combi nation of a plurality of rimsrotatable, about a common axis, each rim being provided with the lettersof the alphabet and the letters of the alphabet being alphabeticallyarranged in groups according to the number of electric impulses requiredto telegraphically transmit them.

3. In a word forming device the combination of a plurality ofindependently movable wheels located on a common shaft, a sleeve securedto said shaft for supporting each of the said wheels and an elasticmeans connected to the said sleeve and adapted to bear upon the wheellocated on the said sleeve.

l. In a word forming device the combination of a shaft, a plurality ofindependently rotatable wheels located on the said shaft, the peripheryof each wheel having the letters of the alphabet upon it and the lettersof the alphabet being arranged in four groups according to the number ofelectric electric impulses required to 'telegraphically impulsesrequired to telegraphically transtransmit them. V 1 Y mit-them. Intestimony whereof, l have signed my 5 In a, wvo rd forming devicethe-combinaname tO f/hiS SPBCifiCELtiOH in presence 5 (tiion 0g asiloaft, a'plbulraliig 01f c1up'*sh1zped ill:- tWo subscribingWitnesses. epen 'e'nt rotate e w ees ocatec on t e {1 said shaft, theouter surface of each Wheel CHARLES BURKE being provided with theletters of the alpha Witnesses: bet and the letters of the alphabetbeing ar- F. F. ORAMPTON, 10 ranged in groups according tothe number ofE. Rrrz.

Copies of this patent'may b obtained for five cents each,by' addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 1

